We’ve started to feel that playoff intensity for Canadian sports and athletes this past week.
The Toronto Raptors put on an impressive defence of home court to tie their best-of-seven series against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 2-2 while the Canadian NHL teams had some disappointing results themselves in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Over in the MLB, the Toronto Blue Jays made a big change with the announcement that Jeff Hoffman will no longer be the closer, and they’ve found a bit of momentum as well with their second-straight series win.
There was more unfortunate injury news on the Canada men’s soccer front while, coming back to basketball, it was an award winning week for cousins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Here’s everything that happened in and around Canadians in the world of sport over the past week:
Raptors level series against Cavaliers in dramatic fashion
TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 26: Scottie Barnes #4 and Jamal Shead #23 of the Toronto Raptors celebrate at the end of Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena on April 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
(Cole Burston via Getty Images)
The Raptors have got some spunk. Facing an 0-2 series deficit, Toronto won both its games at home, which includes an absolute slugfest against Cleveland in Game 4. It guarantees the series will be extended until at least Game 6.
Scottie Barnes continues to turn heads with his playoff performances, putting the Raptors on his back yet again with jaw dropping defence and powerful drives to the bucket on offence. He was well supported by RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles, while Brandon Ingram finally showed some signs of life after what has been an abysmal series for him up to this point.
In Sunday, the Raptors started the game 0-for-14 from three but kept themselves in the game by doing a great job yet again against the Cavs’ star backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Harden had just 19 points as well as seven turnovers while Mitchell needed 24 shots for his 20 points and also had four turnovers.
Among the more impressive aspects of the win was the resilience of the younger Raptors players, particularly Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter, who couldn’t make a shot as they combined to shoot 0-for-13 from three, but kept giving everything they had defensively to limit Harden and Mitchell.
That includes Shead making one of the best defensive plays of the postseason so far, as the Raptors’ point guard forced an eight-second violation on Mitchell to regain possession with his team down by one, late in Game 4.
Rookie Murray-Boyles continued his outstanding series with 15 points and 10 rebounds, including a huge show of 1-on-1 defence against Mitchell as he went for three late to tie the game.
Game 5 will be Wednesday in Cleveland.
Senators swept out of Stanley Cup playoffs by Hurricanes
Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators and Nicolas Deslauriers #44 of the Carolina Hurricanes shake hands after the Ottawa Senators are eliminated in Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 25, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Ottawa Senators had a very temporary stay in the NHL postseason, getting swept in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Carolina came into the series as big favourites as the East’s top seed having finished atop the Metropolitan division with 53 wins. The Sens, meanwhile, had just about squeaked into the playoffs with the final wildcard spot after finishing fifth in the Atlantic division.
If there was a turning point in the series, it was certainly Game 2. Ottawa had its share of chances in a game that went to double overtime but just couldn’t crack through before Jordan Martinook’s winner. So close to tying the series 1-1, the Hurricanes looked in control thereafter with the confidence of front runners.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Sens captain Brady Tkachuk said. “Really tight series. Give credit to them, they are a really (good) team and play hard. Everybody in this room gave everything they had to try to extend the series. It’s tough.”
It was a tough weekend all around for Canadian teams as the Montreal Canadiens lost 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, which levelled the series at 2-2. The Edmonton Oilers also lost 4-3 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks and are now staring elimination in the face with a 3-1 series deficit.
Sidney Crosby did help the Pittsburgh Penguins avoid a sweep, as they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 in Game 4 to now trail the series 3-1. Crosby finished the game with a goal and an assist and he will try to help keep the Penguins on the comeback trail in Game 5 on Monday night.
Blue Jays remove Jeff Hoffman from closer role
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) reacts after a solo home run by the Athletics during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press vía AP)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Jeff Hoffman’s struggles in the closer role came to a head on Friday, with the Toronto Blue Jays announcing that he will not be in the role moving forward. The team did not announce a specific replacement, with GM Ross Atkins stating that it will be a “shared responsibility” at least for the near future.
While there are few questions over how nasty Hoffman’s stuff can be, his struggles to locate consistently saw him blow three saves in the early season. He blew a big one on April 14, which the Blue Jays bats still found a way to escape with the win, and then he gave up a grand slam in the next game with the scores tied 2-2.
On April 21, Hoffman looked on the verge of blowing another save as he loaded the bases, including hitting two batters, before manager John Schneider replaced him with Louis Varland. The latter has been tremendous to start the season and needed just one pitch to get a double-play and end the game.
There has been a lot of pressure on Hoffman coming into the season, having blown the save in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers by giving up a home run to Miguel Rojas, L.A.’s No. 9 hitter.
“For me, it comes down to just executing,” Schneider said. ‘It comes down to [what] pitch are you throwing when and where are you throwing it? I don’t think it’s mental for him. He’s been in big spots.
“It doesn’t look to be mechanical, and in talking to him, it’s not physical. So I think it’s just executing better.”
On the field, the Blue Jays showed glimpses of turning around their rough start with their fifth win in seven games and second straight series win to improve to 12-15.
Athlete of the Week: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 25: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates after scoring against the Phoenix Suns during the second half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Christian Petersen via Getty Images)
It’s pretty straightforward when the reigning NBA MVP and Finals MVP drops a new playoff career-high with 42 points on a mind blowing 15-of-18 shooting from the field to go along with a near perfect 11-of-12 from the free-throw line.
That sparkling performance lifted the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 121-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns, which now puts them in a commanding position with a 3-0 lead in their first round best-of-seven series.
While we have some time to wait before the 2025-26 MVP is named, Gilgeous-Alexander added to his trophy cabinet as he was awarded the Clutch Player of the Year award. He beat out Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and fellow Canadian Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets by claiming 96 of the 100 first-place votes. Murray edged out Edwards by a point to finish second in voting.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with 175 points in clutch time, which the NBA defines as the final five minutes of games that have a margin of five points or fewer.
“This award means a lot,” Gilgeous-Alexander said on NBC Sports. “To get this award, you have to help your team win games late and what I’m about more than anything is winning games.”
Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t the only member of his family celebrating an NBA award this week. In a special week for Canada, Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker won the Most Improved Player award. He earned the recognition for averaging a career-high 20.8 points per game, which more than doubled his career scoring average from his first six seasons in the league. He also added career highs with 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.
Alexander-Walker was a free agent this past summer and signed a four-year, $62 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks. He received 66 of the 100 first-place votes for the award. The Hawks captured the heartwarming moment that Alexander-Walker found out he won the award.
Laryea becomes latest injury concern for Canada men’s soccer
TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 18: Richie Laryea #22 of the Toronto FC looks on ahead of playing against the Austin FC in their MLS soccer match at BMO Field on April 18, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
(Mark Blinch via Getty Images)
The injuries just continue to pile up for Canada as Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea is now expected to miss a month due to a thigh injury.
While there is complete optimism that he will be healthy before the World Cup begins, you want players entering in the tournament with matches under their belt and in form. Laryea has become the heart and soul of the national team, playing with his heart on his sleeve, executing his role under Marsch’s system to perfection, while never being afraid to mix things up with opponents.
This is what Canada’s injury worries currently look like beyond Laryea:
Moise Bombito (Nice): Broken tibia, recovery and return to action stage.
Derek Cornelius (Rangers): Significant muscle injury, back in training.
Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough): Ankle injury, will miss remainder of season.
Promise David (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise): Hip tendon injury, ruled out 3-5 months back in February.
While that list doesn’t look extremely lengthy, all of Alphonso Davies, Alistair Johnston, Stephen Eustaquio, Luc De Fougerolles, and Jacob Shaffelburg very recently made returns from their respective injuries, meaning their health statuses will have to be monitored closely moving forward.
Tempo establishing culture, playing style at first training camp
Toronto, ON – April 20: Head coach Sandy Brondello works with players on the Tempo WNBA team as they practice during training camp at the University of Toronto. PD Nick Lachance/Toronto Star Nick Lachance/Toronto Star (Nick Lachance/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
(Nick Lachance via Getty Images)
The Toronto Tempo held training camp at the University of Toronto’s Goldring Centre, increasing their familiarity with each other both on and off court.
Head coach Sandy Brondello has raved about how willing her roster has been to learn, the energy they’ve brought to camp, and the general willingness to interact with one another. With a completely new franchise in place, one of the early exercises during camp was for each teammate to learn something new about each other that they didn’t know at the start of the day.
“I’m a firm believer that the most connected teams off the court are the most connected teams on the court,” Brondello said. “That’s what we’re trying to achieve here and it’s everyone being vulnerable in that space and opening up because we’re in this journey together.
“Let’s enjoy it together on and off the court.”
Notable
The Ottawa Charge clinched the final PWHL playoff spot with a win over the Toronto Sceptres.
The Vancouver Whitecaps picked up yet another win as they defeated the Colorado Rapids 3-1. Toronto FC lost 2-1 to Atlanta United FC while CF Montreal beat New York City FC 1-0.